Cowley College ACES Leads Community Effort to Package 20,000 Meals for Local Distribution

Cowley College’s Academic Civic Engagement through Service (ACES) organization, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Arkansas City, hosted a community food packaging event on Saturday, March 7 at Central Christian Church in Arkansas City.

The event brought together 136 volunteers from across the community, including Cowley College students, Upward Bound students, faculty, civic organizations, and community members. Working together throughout the morning, volunteers packaged a total of 20,000 meals that will be distributed locally to support individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

The meals will be delivered to commodity distribution programs in Arkansas City and Winfield, three area food pantries, and more than five churches that help provide food assistance throughout the community.

The event not only provided essential resources for local residents but also highlighted the power of community collaboration and service learning.

One Cowley College student participating in the event shared their perspective during the packaging effort, saying, “It’s kind of cool seeing all these people who don’t know each other working together for a common purpose.”

IMPACT Director and ACES Coordinator Greg Butler said the student’s comment captured the heart of the event.

“That one comment says everything about why it matters,” Butler said. “Seeing students and community members come together, that’s what service learning is all about.”

Organizers expressed their appreciation for the many volunteers and organizations that contributed their time and resources to make the event successful.

Special thanks were extended to the Rotary Club of Arkansas City for their partnership in organizing the event, Central Christian Church for providing the facility, the Optimist Club for their help with fundraising and continued support throughout the year, and the Kiwanis Club and Early Bird Lions Club for their generous donations that helped make the event possible.

Through initiatives like this, Cowley College continues to encourage civic engagement while strengthening partnerships that support the well-being of the surrounding community.

Hunter Ferguson | Integrated Communications Specialist
Cowley College
125 S. 2nd Street
Arkansas City, KS 67005
hunter.ferguson@cowley.edu